Monday, December 31, 2012

We spent seven days visiting Washington DC during the first week of September 2012. In addition to all of the sights we saw within the city, we also completed the following day-trips in nearby Virginia:

Mount Vernon

Alexandria, Virginia

Arlington Cemetery

Mount Vernon:
As someone whom is obsessed with historical buildings, especially those of the colonial era, I had dreamt of visiting the beautiful estate of Mount Vernon for as long as I can remember and vowed that whenever I finally had the opportunity to visit Washington DC I would make the trip out.

Mount Vernon is located upon the Potomac River and is the former home of George Washington and his family as well as hundreds of slaves. The 500 acre estate is on the National Register of Historic Places and includes the three story mansion, multiple gardens and outdoor buildings, servants halls, George Washington's tomb, a wharf, and a pioneer farmer site. The home was originally built in 1741 and George Washington later acquired the estate in 1754 making many improvements and expansions to the house and property over the next 50 years until his death.

All visitors should began their visit with by watching the film We Fight to Be Free, at the Ford Orientation Theater. Next up should be a tour of the mansion. During the busy spring and summer months, visitors will be assigned a specific time to complete the guided tour of the mansion. If you've got some time to kill before your tour, don't worry, as there are plenty of things to occupy your time with, including the impressive visitor center with lots of interactive exhibits and artifacts to see. Luckily for us we were able to tour the house immediately after the film. The guided tour lasted about 20 minutes and took us through every room on the main floor and several rooms on the second floor. The entire house has been beautifully restored to how it would have appeared in 1799, the year George Washington died. My favorite room of the entire house was the Large Dining Room, which is the largest room in the house. In addition to touring the inside of the house, we were also brought to the back porch, where we were provided with an amazing view across the Potomac River. We later came back to the porch and sat on one of the many chairs to enjoy the beautiful views again because we just couldn't get enough.

After touring the house, we made our way around the large estate which took several hours. I most enjoyed seeing the Upper Gardens and the Slave Quarters, which have recently been meticulously restored to their original appearance. Most people would probably be happy spending a half-day at the estate. However, history buffs like myself will probably prefer to spend nearly the entire day in order to see everything on the estate and to also spend a fair amount of time at the visitor center. For those coming from Washington DC, the estate can be easily reached via public transportation in about an hour.

The mansion at Mount Vernon Estate.

The mansion at Mount Vernon Estate.

The mansion at Mount Vernon Estate.

The mansion at Mount Vernon Estate.

The mansion at Mount Vernon Estate.

The mansion at Mount Vernon Estate.

The mansion at Mount Vernon Estate.

The mansion at Mount Vernon Estate.

Posing in front of the mansion at Mount Vernon Estate.

The mansion at Mount Vernon Estate.

The mansion at Mount Vernon Estate.

The kitchen at Mount Vernon.

The covered walkway connecting the mansion to the kitchen at Mount Vernon Estate.

View from the back porch of the Potomac River at Mount Vernon Estate.

View from the back porch of the Potomac River at Mount Vernon Estate.

Shyawn enjoying the view of the Potomac River from the back porch of the mansion.

Friday, December 28, 2012

We spent seven days visiting Washington DC during the first week of September 2012. This blog entry will document all of the sights we saw within the city during our week-long stay. I also have an additional blog entry that highlights the different day-trips we took outside of the city here.

This entry will cover the following sights in detail below:

Washington Monument

World War II Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Korean War Memorial

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

United States Capitol

White House

Georgetown

Ford's Theater

National Museum of American History

Library of Congress

Newseum

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

U.S. Botanical Garden

National Air and Space Museum

National Archives

DAR Museum

National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

Washington Monument:
This obelisk, located on the National Mall, was built to honor President George Washington. It is the tallest obelisk in the world standing at over 555 feet. Construction of the monument began in 1848 but due to delays of multiple factors, including the Civil War, was not completed until 1884. Unfortunately we were unable to climb or access the monument as it has been closed for repairs since Virginia earthquake in 2011. However, thankfully for us, we were able to view the monument from dozens of different vantage points along or near the National Mall, providing me plenty of photographic opportunities.

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

Washington Monument

National WWII Memorial:
Located between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, this memorial was built in dedication to the 16 million Americans who served in the armed forces during World War II. The memorial features 56 pillars (for each state and territory) and a pair of 43-foot arches that surround a large plaza and beautiful fountain. There has been much controversy over this memorial, with some critics stating that the placement of the memorial was a poor choice, as it broke up what was once an unbroken view between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. Although I can understand and appreciate this criticism, I found that the fountain and plaza of this memorial adds to the overall appeal of the mall from a distance, especially as viewed from the Lincoln Memorial. There has also been significant criticism made against the design of the memorial, comparing it to style that was favored by Hilter and Mussolini. However, supporters have reminded these critics that the architecture style used in the memorial was very popular in the United States during the New Deal period, just a decade before the country's involvement with the war. Personally, I found the memorial to be quite beautiful, and a moving tribute to all those that served in the war.

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial

The view of the National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial from the World War II Memorial.

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About Me

I am an avid traveler, amateur photographer, and self-proclaimed foodie whose biggest passion in life involves discovering new places, people, and food. Long ago, I decided to make travel the most important priority in my life.
Traveling has altered my life in more ways than I will ever be able to describe. One of the biggest and most important things traveling has done to me is immensely change the way I measure quality of life. Travel has also broadened my perspectives and helped me realize that not everyone has the so-called “American Dream” and that having less things in life can actually make you a happier and more fulfilled human being. Through my travels I have gained a huge appreciation for cultural, political, and religious differences and diversity.
This blog will allow me to document all of my amazing travels, life-changing experiences, delicious food, and the interesting interactions I encounter as I travel through this very beautiful and diverse world.